Fukushima before, after tsunami

August 6, 2015 5:46 PM

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A massive earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011, spurring a giant tsunami that engulfed large parts of the northeastern part of the country. Here are some photos of affected sites before the tsunami (in some cases), just after and now. Here, a man walks past a car wedged into a boat on March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images less

A massive earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011, spurring a giant tsunami that engulfed large parts of the northeastern part of the country. Here are some photos of affected sites before ... more

A massive earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on March 11,... Photo-8426919.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year... Photo-8426920.114760 - seattlepi.com

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A man climbs onto a boat wedged on a bridge on March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large parts of northeastern Japan. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images less

A man climbs onto a boat wedged on a bridge on March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large parts of ... more

A man climbs onto a boat wedged on a bridge on March 18, 2011 in... Photo-8426921.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The same bridge is seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same bridge is seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same bridge is seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year... Photo-8426922.114760 - seattlepi.com

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A replica of the Statue of Liberty stands amongst rubble and debris on March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large parts of northeastern Japan. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images less

A replica of the Statue of Liberty stands amongst rubble and debris on March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that ... more

A replica of the Statue of Liberty stands amongst rubble and debris... Photo-8426923.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year... Photo-8426924.114760 - seattlepi.com

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People walk through rubble on March 18, 2011, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large parts of northeastern Japan. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images less

People walk through rubble on March 18, 2011, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large parts of northeastern Japan. Photo: Chris McGrath, ... more

People walk through rubble on March 18, 2011, a week after a 9.0... Photo-8426925.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year... Photo-8426926.114760 - seattlepi.com

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Miyuki Komatsu walks back to her home March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large parts of northeastern Japan. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images less

Miyuki Komatsu walks back to her home March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large parts of northeastern ... more

Miyuki Komatsu walks back to her home March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki,... Photo-8426927.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year... Photo-8426928.114760 - seattlepi.com

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Destroyed cars and trucks are seen outside a shopping mall on March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large parts of northeastern Japan. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images less

Destroyed cars and trucks are seen outside a shopping mall on March 18, 2011 in Ishinomaki, Japan, a week after a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck Japan offshore, triggering a tsunami that engulfed large ... more

Destroyed cars and trucks are seen outside a shopping mall on March... Photo-8426929.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Chris McGrath, Getty Images

The same location as seen on March 7, 2012, ahead of the one year... Photo-8426930.114760 - seattlepi.com

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A man rides a bicycle by ships lying on the wharf in Yotsukura port in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 6, 2011, top, about one month after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP less

A man rides a bicycle by ships lying on the wharf in Yotsukura port in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 6, 2011, top, about one month after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on ... more

A man rides a bicycle by ships lying on the wharf in Yotsukura port... Photo-8426931.114760 - seattlepi.com

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A man walks on the cleaned-up wharf in Yotsukura port in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 3, 2012, nearly one year after the disaster. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP

A man walks on the cleaned-up wharf in Yotsukura port in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 3, 2012, nearly one year after the disaster. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP

A man walks on the cleaned-up wharf in Yotsukura port in Iwaki,... Photo-8426932.114760 - seattlepi.com

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Four reactors -- from right to left, Unit 1 to Unit 4 -- at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture are shown in December, 2000, before a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on March 11, 2011 and sent three of its reactors into meltdown. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP less

Four reactors -- from right to left, Unit 1 to Unit 4 -- at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture are shown in December, 2000, before a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit ... more

Four reactors -- from right to left, Unit 1 to Unit 4 -- at the... Photo-8426933.114760 - seattlepi.com

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Four reactors -- from right to left, Unit 1 to Unit 4 -- at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture are shown on Feb. 26, 2012, nearly one year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on March 11, 2011 and sent three of its reactors into meltdown. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP less

Four reactors -- from right to left, Unit 1 to Unit 4 -- at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture are shown on Feb. 26, 2012, nearly one year after a devastating earthquake and ... more

Four reactors -- from right to left, Unit 1 to Unit 4 -- at the... Photo-8426934.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture is shown in October 2008, before a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011 and sent three of its reactors into meltdown. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP less

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture is shown in October 2008, before a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011 and sent three of its reactors ... more

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima... Photo-8426935.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture is shown on Feb. 26, 2012, nearly one year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011 and sent three of its reactors into meltdown. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP less

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture is shown on Feb. 26, 2012, nearly one year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011 and sent three ... more

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Fukushima... Photo-8426936.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, in March 2010, a year before a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast. Photo: Tadao Yoshimura, AP

The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, in March 2010, a year before a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast. Photo: Tadao Yoshimura, AP

The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi,... Photo-8426937.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown on April 7, 2011, soon after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: Kyodo News, AP less

The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown on April 7, 2011, soon after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: ... more

The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi,... Photo-8426938.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown on March 7, 2012, nearly one year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP less

The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown on March 7, 2012, nearly one year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast. Photo: AP ... more

The aerial view of the Tsurishihama fishing port area in Shinchi,... Photo-8426939.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The aerial view of Obama district in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown in March 2010, a year before a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast. Photo: Tadao Yoshimura/AP Photo, AP

The aerial view of Obama district in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown in March 2010, a year before a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast. Photo: Tadao Yoshimura/AP Photo, AP

The aerial view of Obama district in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown on March 7, 2012, nearly a year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP

The aerial view of Obama district in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown on March 7, 2012, nearly a year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP

The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown in July 2010, before a devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: Tadao Yoshimura/AP Photo, AP less

The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown in July 2010, before a devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: Tadao Yoshimura/AP ... more

The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima... Photo-8426943.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown on April 7, 2011, soon after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP less

The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is shown on April 7, 2011, soon after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo ... more

The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima... Photo-8426944.114760 - seattlepi.com

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The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture is shown on March 4, 2012, nearly one year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: AP Photo/Kyodo News, AP less

The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture is shown on March 4, 2012, nearly one year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's northeast on Mach 11, 2011. Photo: AP ... more

The aerial view of Tairatoma district in Iwaki, Fukushima... Photo-8426945.114760 - seattlepi.com